A number of high-quality Chinese TV series have been rolled out by younger directors who have made a name for themselves in recent years with creative production ideas. One such work, Escape from the Trilateral Slopes, a newly released thriller generating buzz on Chinese social media, exemplifies its director's exploration of creative expression.

The 21-episode Escape from the Trilateral Slopes, centers around the journey of Shen Xing, played by actor Guo Qilin, who finds himself in a remote border town while on a quest to locate his missing uncle. Along the way, he encounters Uncle Cai, a mysterious figure portrayed by veteran actor Francis Ng, who introduces unexpected twists and challenges to Shen's journey, creating a thrilling narrative filled with intrigue and moral dilemmas.

The series airing on streaming platform Youku has an 8.2/10 rating on China's major review platform Douban. Many netizens, at home and abroad, have commented that they saw humanity in the show.

What sets Escape from the Trilateral Slopes apart is its capacity to weave together multiple genres. While it features elements of mystery and suspense, the series also explores profound themes related to human nature, morality, and the struggle for survival. Directed by Mu Xincen, a fresh voice among the new generation of Chinese directors, the series' narrative is intricately layered, particularly through the perspective of Shen Xing, who copes with the challenges faced by young people as they navigate the complexities of modern life.

"If a kind of philosophy or a piece of literature can be passed down and inspire generations for thousands of years, this philosophy must contain universal value that can nourish people worldwide, just like Chinese philosophies of Taoism, Confucianism and Zen Buddhism," Tsai Chih-chung told the Global Times.

Tsai Chih-chung, born on the island of Taiwan, and spends much of his time in the Chinese mainland, is one of the world's artists with the most best-selling comics. Throughout his lengthy career, he has focused on uncovering the universal values he glimpsed in Chinese philosophy and literature, striving to make them accessible and popular by using plain language and engaging illustrations.

Tsai finally carved out his own literary niche. Nourished by these classics, his comic books have been translated into more than 20 languages and gone on sale in over 50 countries around the world.

The artist's ties with the Chinese mainland grows closer as time goes by. Residing in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province after becoming addicted to the "cultural atmosphere of the city," Tsai's personal gallery, which houses most of his lifelong manuscripts and masterpieces, opened in May in Gaoping, North China's Shanxi Province, a region historically associated with the ancient deified ruler Shennong, the Yan Emperor, the ancestor of Chinese civilization.

Like Tsai, other cultural luminaries, including Jiang Xun, in Taiwan feel bound to the essence of Chinese civilization and shared cultural roots across the Taiwan Straits, with their own creations and promoted the Chinese cultural essence to a larger number of audiences through comics and other art forms.

'Easy to understand'

Structured around uniform two-page spreads, each left-hand page features a full-height caption box displaying the original Chinese text of the Taoist philosopher Zhuangzi during the Warring States Period (475BC-221BC), which was mirrored by the same format on the right-hand page.

The delicate black lines of the drawings, the English text, the frames, and the ideographs come together in harmonious compositions that align beautifully with the themes of Zhuangzi's writings. The sage advice "Don't draw a boundary around the boundless" is enriched by this visual paradox. Additionally, Tsai established a visual rhythm by placing Zhuangzi's moral-like statements in the unframed white space of a concluding panel, emphasizing their significance.

This is the English version of one of Tsai's comic books, adapted from Zhuangzi's The Way of Nature, an ancient Taoist text. The image of Zhuangzi in the book features a mostly bald head roughly a third the size of his body, amusing readers with characters' exaggerated movements while adding humorous elements in the philosophical literature that is usually considered as abstruse.

Among his more than 200 titles, Tsai turns the ancient Chinese philosophers such as Zhuangzi, Laozi and Confucius into humorous images through his comics and simplifies the interpretations of their thoughts through many interesting stories, lowering the threshold for non-professionals to get access to the sage theories.

"I convey these traditional philosophical ideas to the world through the medium of comics as one of the mediums' advantages is that comics are easy to understand," Tsai told the Global Times. "You need to remember what your readers' demands are all the time."

Born in Changhua county on the island of Taiwan in 1948, Tsai taught himself the art of animation and founded the animation studio. The first full-length animated movie was produced by the studio in 1981.

Then Tsai developed a plan to adapt the major Chinese classics into comic book formats. The first was Zhuangzi Speaks, which immediately shot up the best-sellers list and stayed at the No. 1 spot for 10 months. Tsai's classic series took off since then.

Although Tsai has had excursion into so many sage thoughts in Chinese history, in his eyes, he has special bond with Taoism, the original philosophy created in China. His spiritual idol is Laozi, creator of Taoism, and he thought himself performs deeds as Zhuangzi, who maintained unconstrained mind and life.

Despite having sold over 60 million copies of his books around the world, Tsai has not slowed down in his creative endeavors.

Though settled in Hangzhou, Tsai has also moved his creations to the art gallery in Gaoping, bringing them closer to the source of his inspiration.

New window for exchanges

One important reason why Tsai chose Shanxi Province, one of the origins of Chinese civilization peppered with various relics and a long heritage, is because the Shanxi Province's rich historical atmosphere aligns perfectly with his works. He believes that the essence of Chinese civilization, deeply rooted in the city, offers abundant material and inspiration for his artistic creations.

Since its opening in May, coinciding with the person-to-person cross-Straits cultural activities honoring the Yan Emperor held in Gaoping, the gallery has welcomed over a thousand tourists per day on average to appreciate the artist's works.

The gallery has been recognized as a new platform for cross-Straits cultural exchanges, in addition to being a venue for appreciating and studying artworks, according to the director of the city's culture and tourism bureau.

These exchanges through artworks have spanned different generations of artists.

Veteran artists in Taiwan brought their exllcellent crafts to share with many young people through various audio and video programs, while cross-Straits younger artists are exchanging their ideas in art exhibitions held in diverse places on both sides of the Taiwan Straits.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday co-chaired the 29th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Moscow and said China is ready to work with Russia to strengthen all-round practical cooperation between the two countries, and push the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era to a new level. 

Analysts said that China-Russia ties remain solid and can withstand any impact and interruption from outside, and will continue to benefit the two peoples by boosting trade and comprehensive cooperation, while China's stance for peace on the Ukraine crisis will remain unchanged. 

While co-chairing the meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government, Li said that China is ready to work with Russia to follow the strategic guidance of the two heads of state and take the opportunity of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties to uphold mutual respect, mutual trust, everlasting friendship and mutual benefit.

Mishustin said Russia is ready to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, continue to deepen mutual trust, expand cooperation in investment, energy, economy and trade, culture and sub-national areas, and ensure the success of the Russia-China Years of Culture.

Mishustin pledged Russia will join China in strengthening communication and coordination in international affairs, better safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of the two sides, and pushing forward the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era.

After the meeting, the two leaders signed a joint communique of the 29th regular meeting between Chinese and Russian heads of government and a new version of the outline of the China-Russia investment cooperation plan.

According to the Kremlin, Putin also met Li in Moscow on Wednesday. "Our countries have large-scale joint plans, projects in the economic and humanitarian areas, we expect them to last for many years," the RIA state news agency quoted Putin as saying.

Wang Xiaoquan, an expert with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said that this is the 29th meeting between the heads of government of the two countries. This is proof that China-Russia relations have set a paradigm for major power relations in a world in turbulence, which is based on long-term and stable win-win cooperation and solid mutual trust and respect.

Comprehensive partnership

A key characteristic of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for the new era is the comprehensive communication mechanism that covers almost all governmental sectors and departments in all fields, Wang noted.

The two countries will use the communication mechanism to jointly deal with problems that emerge when the two sides develop their relations, and they will constantly strengthen their mutual trust and tacit understanding, experts noted. 

China and Russia are both permanent members of the UN Security Council so they do have reason to maintain frequent and high-level communication to not only handle bilateral issues, but also to undertake diplomatic cooperation to jointly take responsibility to safeguard the multi-polarization process of the world, analysts said. 

"Therefore, the recent frequent exchanges between Chinese and Russian leaders and senior officials are not pushed by any other element or pressure, but are driven by normal demand of the two countries to develop their relations," Wang said.

Yang Jin, an associate research fellow with the Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Wednesday that the meeting between the heads of government normally focuses on trade and economic issues, as well as implementation of the consensuses reached by the heads of state of the two countries.  

Currently, there are some changes in the battlefields of Russia-Ukraine conflict, but the exchanges between China and Russia have nothing to do with these changes. Normal cooperation between the two countries in all fields can effectively withstand the pressure and impacts from outside, and China's neutrality and stance for peace on the Ukraine crisis will not change, Yang noted.   

Deal with challenges

Mishustin said at the meeting with Li that Moscow and Beijing should jointly defend their interests and the principles of the multipolar world order in the conditions of Western sanctions pressure, Russian news agency Tass reported on Wednesday.

"Western countries are trying to maintain their global dominance and contain the economic and technological potential of Russia and China," Mishustin said.

"That is why it is important to concentrate efforts on protecting our common interests, building a multipolar world order and strengthening coordination on international platforms," Mishustin emphasized, according to Tass.

Cui Heng, a research fellow with the Center for Russian Studies of East China Normal University, said that in the past two years, the US and NATO have tried to stigmatize and interrupt China-Russia relations, but these attempts have failed, as the two countries are just doing what they should and what they must to take care of their people from the harms of Western sanctions. 

"Russian people have the right to live and enjoy economic development, so when Western firms withdraw from Russia, it's very natural that China and other economies from the Global South will come in, so the US and its followers are in no position to appoint blame about that," Cui noted.

Chinese golfer Cao Xinyu had a memorable 18th birthday celebration on Friday as the rookie pro defeated amateur Liu Yujie in a second-hole playoff to win her maiden China LPGA Tour title in a wet and wild finale to the Golf Liquor Guangdong Women's Open.

After heavy rain forced the suspension of play for nearly an hour, both Cao and 14-year-old Liu returned to the Zhuhai Lakewood Golf Club composite layout to complete their third round. With each closing with a two-under-par 70, the two players finished deadlocked on seven-under 209.

In the playoff, both players made two putts for par on the 401-yard 18th hole in the first hole of sudden death. Returning to the same hole again, Liu put her tee shot right into the rough. With Cao safely on the green in two, Liu put her approach to within seven yards of the pin after missing the green. She would then miss her par putt. Sitting 60 feet from the pin, Cao made no mistake in getting down in two putts to secure the win.

"I didn't believe in birthday luck until I made it today," said Shanghai native Cao, who earned 60,000 yuan ($8,278.44) for the win. "It's a coming-of-age ceremony for me. It's my maiden win, which boosts my confidence. I believe that I can have good finishes next week in Singapore and Beijing Pine Valley at the end of this month."

Pakin Kawinpakorn (69) finished third at two shots back as the Thai stumbled to a bogey five on the final hole, where she needed a birdie to join the playofsf. Her compatriot, Dolnapa Zukphokinvanich, was two shots further back in fourth after a final round 70.

Cao, who joined the paid ranks earlier this year after posting five top-five finishes against the pros last season as an amateur on the CLPGA Tour, was three shots behind playing partner Liu going into the 15th hole. It was there at the 540-yard hole that she started an amazing run of three consecutive birdies highlighted by a 45-foot birdie putt at the 16th hole.

With the two players even at seven-under going into the final hole of regulation, Cao nearly lost when her approach missed the green landing 45 yards short. After her third shot went over the pin, she then made a dramatic 25-foot downhill putt to force the playoff as Liu two-putted for par from 45 feet.

"The 18th hole was a beast," said Cao. 

"At the second extra hole, I really captured this unreal win. I won plenty of times at junior events but this is different. It's the toughest win for me."

Liu, daughter of table-tennis great Liu Guoliang, the two-time gold medallist at the 1996 Olympics, missed another opportunity to get her maiden win against a professional. Two weeks ago, the teenager was the overnight co-leader going into the final round at the Beijing Women's Challenge where she finished equal 10th.

Her round today included four birdies over the first 11 holes and two bogeys.
"After Beijing, I knew how to play in the final round. I played well today. I can get full marks from the way I played. I made my best efforts, especially in such poor conditions," said Liu, a winner of eight events on the amateur circuit over the past three years.

"I am excited to see my progress. It's my breakthrough. I also saw my deficiencies in this event, which would be good for my future. Hats off to sister Xinyu. She played well and deserved this win."

Pakin, who started the day three shots off the lead, made a move up the leaderboard immediately when she sank a five-foot birdie putt at the 347-yard opening hole. After holding it together in the wet conditions to post three more birdies and get close, the final hole proved her nemesis.

"I didn't look at the leaderboard because I didn't want to put a lot of pressure on myself," said the 32-year-old Kawin, winner of the 2018 Zhuhai Heritage. "My goal was to play my best out there but a bogey [on the final hole] was the best I could do."

Zhuhai Lakewood Golf Club is a 6,460-yard, par-72 composite course featuring nine holes from the Norman Course and nine from the Lakes Course.

The French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF) recently received four pieces of Chinese blue and white porcelain made by a Chinese artist, which highlighted the ongoing cultural exchange and appreciation between France and China during the Paris Olympic Games.

These artifacts not only showcase China's rich cultural heritage but also symbolize the universal values and global resonance of the Olympic spirit, according to the CNOSF.

In addition to these exquisite artifacts, the Chinese delegation arrived in Paris in style carrying some distinctive cultural icons, such as the Chinese athletes' suitcases featuring Terracotta Warriors, the official medal ceremony uniform featuring the Chinese dragon as well as the red-and-white attire for the opening ceremony.

Fan Yifeng, dean of the school of design at Dalian Minzu University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that integrating Chinese cultural icons with sports is a great way to promote the Chinese culture at international sports events.

"What impressed me most is the medal ceremony uniform, as the Chinese dragon element has been used for years in its design. The dragon-themed outfit is visually striking," said Fan.

"Sports transcend national boundaries. To promote the athletic spirit, it's important to work on how to better combine the Chinese culture with key sport-related words such as passion, vigor and vitality so as to reach a broader global audience," Fan noted.

On Tuesday, a Chinese sports culture exhibition themed on "Vigor and Sportsmanship" opened at the Bastille Design Center in Paris. Boasting 139 collections, the exhibition was designed to show the culture and spirit of Chinese sports, and introduce visitors to the practice of sports in ancient China.

The exhibition is also part of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France, showcasing the historical exchanges and mutual influence between China and France in various sports, including racing, cycling, tennis, soccer, and dragon boat racing. It highlights the shared human values embedded in the sports philosophies of both countries, reflecting a harmonious blend of Chinese and French sport cultures.
Auspicious uniform

On July 20, the renowned Chinese women volleyball team arrived in Paris. When they stepped out of the airport, a line of black suitcases drew public attention. Unlike their usual luggage, the new suitcases feature Chinese traditional motifs on and the wheels, sparkling golden light, and look like ancient chariot wheels.

The red and black suitcase, named "Yingyong"(bravery), is inspired by the scale armor of ancient Terracotta Warriors and is ornated with a bowtie similar to that of a general figure at the top. The golden wheels at the bottom draw inspiration from ancient chariot wheels, while the zipper heads are designed to resemble shields. The suitcase also has a metal plate on the front with the Chinese national flag, symbolizing the valor of leading an army into battle.

Bai Jianfeng, a member of the design team said that they sought inspiration from China's splendid civilization and world cultural heritage. The armor design signifies better protection for the athletes and also indicates that the Chinese sports delegation are our heroes, hoping they will return victorious, according to China Central Television News.

Olympic podium outfits from around the world have always garnered attention, and China's outfit lives up to expectations with its dragon-themed design elements.

Officially called the "Champions Dragon Outfit," the outfit is inspired by traditional Chinese aesthetics, featuring classic tailoring and white as its primary color.The design incorporates elements like dragon scales through embossing, patchwork, and embroidery, highlighting China's rich cultural heritage and the energetic spirit of its modern athletes.

Li Qian, a two-time Olympic medalist in women's middleweight boxing, highlighted the outfit's cultural significance. "The Year of the Dragon is very auspicious for Chinese people. This dragon-themed outfit is unique, and I hope to wear it on the Paris Olympic podium," Li told reporters.

In addition to their cultural symbolism, these uniforms utilize green technology, with the production process using eco-friendly materials like recycled nylon and recycled polyester, achieving over 50 percent carbon reduction.

Distinctive patterns

Many netizens have shared the view online that although aesthetic preferences may vary, the red and white outfit is simple and elegant.

"The dragon patterns on the arms and the dragon heads on the zippers reflect Chinese cultural characteristics and complement each other well," a netizen, surnamed Luo, told the Global Times.

"The combination of red and white is stunning. The cuffs and patterns look like superhero armor, very imposing," Paul Marfinetz, a sports fan from the US, told the Global Times.

The opening ceremony attire is named "Chasing Dreams" and incorporates rich elements of traditional Chinese culture. Both the men's and women's jackets feature patterns derived from the bricks of the Great Wall. This pattern, with its horizontal and vertical lines, conveys a sense of integrity and rigor.

The women's attire combines elements of the Chinese qipao and the traditional Song Dynasty (960-1279) costume, featuring bamboo patterns - a significant symbol in traditional Chinese culture representing harmony, unity, resilience, and continuous growth.

The men's shirts have a small standing collar with Chinese-style buttons, showcasing the Chinese spirit of perseverance and striving for excellence in the world.

Shining on the stage of Paris Olympic Games, these cultural icons provide an opportunity for global athletes to gain a better understanding of Chinese culture, promoting cultural exchanges between China and other countries.

After making history by becoming the first Asia-born player to claim gold in a tennis singles event at the Olympics on Saturday, China's Zheng Qinwen said that "national honor always tops individual achievements" and that she hoped the victory will inspire the younger generation of tennis players.

The 21-year-old overpowered Croatian Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 at the Olympics' women singles final and held high the golden trophy on Saturday.

It marked China's first gold medal ever in the Olympic tennis singles, and the country's second in tennis after Li Ting and Sun Tiantian won the women's doubles title at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

Zheng opened the year of 2024 with a runner-up finish at the Australian Open in January, but she thought the Olympic title to be "more important" than the Grand Slams.

"The honor of our country always surpasses individual achievements. I believe that every Chinese person agrees to this. So, when I was able to make history and become the first player to win an Olympic singles gold medal, I felt that all the sweat, effort, tears, and hardships were worth it at that moment," she said at the post-match press conference.

"I have always believed in passing on the torch. If today's victory can inspire more children to dream of tennis, then all of the efforts are worthwhile. I also hope that in 10 or 20 years, you will stand on this stage. Because this is the dream, the top stage, and experiencing what I am feeling at this moment will make you realize that life is worth living."

The World No 7 said that two-time Grand Slam champion Li Na has served as an inspiration for her when she started learning the sport as a kid. Li, who was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame member in 2019, is the only player from the Chinese mainland to win a Grand Slam singles title — at the 2011 French Open and 2014 Australian Open.

"I think Li Na will always be the first in Asia because she was the first Chinese female player to win a Grand Slam. And I am the first Asian player to win an Olympic gold medal, which is also a historical achievement," Zheng noted.

"I still have a long way to go. Every era has its heroes, and every generation has its successful individuals. I believe Li was the leader of her era, and I hope to become a better player and a better version of myself, and to lead the younger generation," she said.

Another Chinese athlete that inspired her is Liu Xiang, whose victory in the 110-meter hurdles at the 2004 Athens Games was the country's first gold in the men's track and field.

"I watched his race multiple times before my game, trying to draw strength from him. he won the title of Olympic champion at the age of 21, which was the peak of his life. Now, I am also 21 years old, and today, 20 years later, I stand on this stage, and I feel that I have achieved the same result," she said.

Zheng, who was dubbed "Queen Wen", ground out to victory through bruising and battling performances. In the quarterfinals, she outlasted the three-time Grand Slam champion Angelique Kerber in a three-set thriller that lasted over three hours. Later, in the semifinals, she ended the World No 1 Iga Swiatek's 25-match winning streak at Roland Garros.

"I have been in pain ever since I finished the third round, so I had to play with bandages since then," Zheng said.

"I feel like I broke through a limit because I knew that on the Olympic stage, no matter how my body felt, I had to fight until the very last moment. Perhaps it was this belief that left me with no way out, that allowed me to attain so many trophies," said she.

The four Grand Slam Tournament Australian Open, Wimbledon Championships, French Open and US Open all posted congratulatory messages on their Sina Weibo accounts to Zheng.

Major foreign news agencies also published articles to praise Zheng's historic accomplishment.

The Associated Press praised her resilience and determination, noting her remarkable performance, despite battling physical pain throughout the tournament, while Reuters emphasized the significance of her triumph for China and the tennis world.

In the vibrant atmosphere of the Paris Olympics, while the spotlight shines on the athletes, a group of unsung heroes works tirelessly behind the scenes--the Olympic volunteers. 

This year, out of 300,000 applicants, around 45,000 were chosen as volunteers, with 20 percent hailing from approximately 150 countries.

Donning bright green uniforms, these volunteers are easy to spot amid the purple venues. They offer assistance to spectators and media alike, making them a vital part of the Olympic experience.

On my first day at the press center, I encountered a technical glitch with my media system account. Thankfully, Chinese volunteer Guo Xiaofan came to my aid. 

"I hope to improve my language, communication skills, and problem-solving methods through this event," said 24-year-old Guo from Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province, who is studying wireless communication at the Paris Institute of Digital Technology. 

As a former national-level swimmer, Guo saw this as her chance to participate in the Olympics, albeit in a different role.

Another Chinese volunteer, surnamed Yang, faced challenges in balancing her work with volunteer duties. Despite sacrificing her holidays, she felt immense pride in contributing to the event, especially with her parents in attendance.

Volunteers are visible everywhere—from bus stops to competition venues—offering directions and assistance with a smile. When large crowds leave the venues after the events, causing congestion, some volunteers sit on high chairs with loudspeakers, providing directions to the exits in both English and French with a smile.

One of my most memorable encounters was with a French volunteer at the International Broadcasting Center. When I needed help finding the visitor center, a young man on a scooter appeared, like a sort of "Monkey King riding a cloud," and offered to take me there. His enthusiasm for the Olympics was contagious, and after helping me, he eagerly asked for a Beijing Winter Olympics badge, expressing his admiration for the event and his desire to visit China.

These dedicated volunteers, with their energy and commitment, truly embody the spirit of the Olympics, making both the event and the city of Paris shine brighter. 

As China-Africa cooperation continues to expand, the digital economy is emerging as a key area of collaboration between the two sides. China is assisting Africa's digital transition through the construction of digital infrastructure, provision of services and talent training, aiming to ensure that Africa does not miss out on valuable development opportunities in the digital age.

However, this has triggered a new round of attacks from the West. On one hand, there is stigmatization of China-Africa digital cooperation from the West, while on the other hand, there are demands for Africa to take sides in geopolitical games from the West. By using both soft and hard tactics, the West is attempting to obstruct China-Africa digital cooperation and reverse Africa's digital development process.

The West's demonization of cooperation between China and Africa continues to intensify. For a long time, the West has viewed cooperation between China and Africa through the lens of Cold War thinking, advocating negative narratives about China's development in Africa.

From smearing China's development financing to Africa as a "debt trap" during the COVID-19 pandemic, to stigmatizing digital cooperation between China and Africa as "digital infiltration," the West continues to find new attack lines, stemming from their envy and fear of China's rise.

Using data centers in Africa as an example, China is engaged in fierce competition in this field with companies from North America, with China offering more partnership opportunities and alternatives. African countries choose Chinese suppliers because China can provide the cost-effective technology and more attractive financing solutions. This is something that the currently protectionist and populist Western countries cannot provide, leading them to slander Chinese companies under the guise of digital security.

It has been shown over time that the Western model of development does not help Africa. From forced acceptance of African independence to the imposition of Western models on Africa, what the West has brought to Africa is not peace and prosperity, but turmoil and poverty. This is why Africa is fundamentally opposed to the conditions attached to Western aid.

Current digital technology is empowering the global economy's recovery and development, but there are technological and financial bottlenecks for Africa to achieve digital transformation. In the global information and communication technology infrastructure market, Chinese companies have a clear competitive advantage. While the West is concerned about investment risks, China provides more favorable support programs to help African countries build digital infrastructure, provide talent training, promote Africa to seize the opportunities of digital economic development.

The Digital Silk Road Initiative has injected momentum into Africa's development. Recently, China reached agreements with 26 African countries to strengthen digital partnerships in talent training, innovation, and infrastructure over the next three years. Over recent years, under the Digital Silk Road Initiative, African countries have made significant progress in digital development, with China's assistance often being cited as a crucial element.

As the digital competition among major countries intensifies, the West has increasingly viewed digital technology as a tool of strategic and "security" importance. Against this backdrop, the pressure exerted by the West on China undoubtedly adds uncertainty to the flourishing digital industry in Africa. For Africa, which is awakening to the importance of empowering its own development, missing the boat of the digital economy again would undoubtedly be disastrous.

Currently, the US' arbitrary "small yard high fence" approach and technology containment on China have extended to press China's digital cooperation with developing countries in Africa and other regions. Maintaining strategic autonomy is a frequent topic in African policy discussions, with a key diplomatic focus on leveraging China's support to advance the digital economy while mitigating potential US criticism.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced on Wednesday that he will not run in the upcoming Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leadership race in September, paving the way for Japan to have a new prime minister. 

The sudden announcement came as Kishida's Cabinet stepped up disaster preparedness after the weather agency last week issued its first-ever advisory warning of an increased risk of a megaquake along the Nankai Trough, running between central and southwestern Japan in the Pacific, according to Japan's Kyodo News. 

"As a first step to impress on the public that the LDP has changed, I have decided not to run in the presidential race," Kishida said during a press conference at the prime minister's office, adding he had made the choice at a time when he is free of immediate diplomatic commitments.

Lin Jian, a spokesperson of  Chinese Foreign Ministry, responded to the question about Kishida's announcement at Wednesday's routine press conference that "We have noted the announcement. This is Japan's domestic affair. We have no comment on it." 

China and Japan are important neighbors. China hopes to work with Japan in the spirit of the four political documents between China and Japan to comprehensively advance the strategic relationship of mutual benefit and work to build a constructive and stable China-Japan relationship fit for the new era, Lin added.

Last month, the approval rating of Kishida's Cabinet edged up by only four percentage points to 21 percent in a weekend Mainichi Shimbun opinion poll, yet remained below the 30 percent mark for the 13th month in a row, Japanese media reported.

Liu Jiangyong, the vice dean of the Institute of Modern International Relations at Tsinghua University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that it will be difficult for a leader with a low approval rating to lead the LDP to victory in elections in 2025. 

Liu emphasized that the decision by Kishida was likely driven by the potential political crisis that a failure in the general election could pose for the party.

Speculation on potential candidates has landed on a number of senior LDP lawmakers, including party Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, Digital Minister Taro Kono, Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi and Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, according to the Associated Press.

Future policy

No matter who becomes next LDP leader and new Japanese prime minister, he or she will likely continue with Kishida's China policy, Xiang Haoyu, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Traditionally, the faction Kishida leads has been known as the "dove faction," however, during three years when he was Prime Minister, Japan has adopted aggressive and hawkish policies in both security and diplomatic arenas, said Xiang. 

Xiang added that Kishida administration has failed to form an objective and rational understanding of China and adopt a positive China policy. Instead, the exaggeration of the "China threat" has increased during his tenure, and Japan has increasingly flirted with the Taiwan question to interfere in China's domestic affairs. These actions have severely damaged ties with China, which is of great significance to Japan.

Xiang said the general political orientation toward China within the Japanese political circle and the LDP is basically the same, as there is a dominant negative attitude toward China and a consensus on balancing China and strengthening the US-Japan alliance. 

Former Japanese Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Wednesday reaffirmed his intention to run in the presidential election of LDP in September following Kishida's decision not to join the race. Ishiba, who is now on a three-day visit to Taiwan through Wednesday as the co-head of a six-member Japanese lawmakers' delegation, reportedly met with regional leader of Taiwan island Lai Ching-te.

The Taiwan question is at the very core of China's core interests. It bears on the political foundation of China-Japan relations and is a red line that must not be crossed, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Wednesday, calling on certain Japanese politicians to stop sending wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatists. 

Chinese experts on Tuesday slammed a recent report by the Chinese language version of the Voice of America (VOA) on India's newly debuted light tank, saying that the US media is seeking to sow discord between China and India amid a recent recovery in relations by hyping the threat of military confrontation which has been subsiding for years.

VOA reported on Monday that India's Zorawar light tank, designed for high altitude operations, will be deployed along the China-India borders "amid continued tensions." 

Calling it a game changer, the report hyped India's new tank and its capabilities, and how it can rival its Chinese counterpart, the Type 15.

The first reports on the debut of the Zorawar light tank were published by Indian media in early July, which, although mentioning China as well, noted that the new Indian tank will not be ready before 2027, a key detail that was ignored by VOA.

Recently, relations between China and India have been recovering, with the two sides having held the 30th Meeting of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs in late July.

It has been more than four years since the Galwan Valley clash of 2020, and since then the two countries have held multiple rounds of border talks on different levels in both military and diplomatic channels, having seen de-escalation and disengagement in multiple points of contact, a Beijing-based military expert who requested not to be named told the Global Times on Tuesday.

The US media's hype on military confrontation along the China-India border is unprofessional, and it exposes the US' mentality of wanting to sow discord amid improving China-India ties, the expert added.

From a military point of view, China has commissioned and actually deployed the Type 15 light tank since 2019, while India's new tank will have to wait until at least 2027, the expert said, noting that India's defense industry has a history of issues such as delays, cost rises and technical problems.